Fall racing returns to Keeneland as the annual October season gets underway on Friday.

The 17-raceday meet runs thru Saturday, October 28th. 

Keeneland attracts big fields and quality horses that offer the kind of racing and wagering that befits the world epicenter of Thoroughbred horse racing in Lexington, Kentucky.

The fall race meet at Keeneland comes and goes fast, so the time is now for handicappers to start brushing up on the things they need to know- such as which jockeys to be looking for:

At the recently concluded Churchill Downs September meet, the jockey title was no contest as Tyler Gaffalione rode 27 Winners from 98 mounts.

Gaffalione has Won many of the Kentucky meet titles the last several years and was far ahead of the next Winningest riders at Churchill, who were Cristian Torres with 12 Wins (18%) and Julien Leparoux with 10 Wins (30%). Both Gerardo Corrales and Rafael Bejarano Won eight races

Last year at the Keeneland fall meet, jockey Luiz Saez unexpectedly Won the riding title 21 Wins to 20 over Gaffalione.

Saez is returning from injury for the start of this years meet, but Gaffalione remains the favorite to Win the 2023 edition of the Keeneland fall meet riding title.

The remainder of the Keeneland 2022 fall meet top five was Joel Rosario with 13 Wins, Florent Geroux with 12 Wins, and Ricardo Santana Jr. with 9 Wins.

Rosario’s 13 Wins were noteworthy because they came from only 56 mounts for a 23% Win percentage.

Opening weekend is Fall Stars Weekend and will feature five Grade 1 Stakes races.

That said, leading riders from around the country will be in Lexington to ride the various Stakes.

After that, expect Gaffalione to take over as leading rider with Rosario, Geroux, Santana, Torres, Corrales, and Bejarano occupying other spots in the top 10 in the standings.

On Wednesday we’ll take a look at who the leading trainers are when it comes to autumn racing at Keeneland.